Gouken

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Gouken

Gouken (剛拳, Gōken, in Japanese, means Rigid Fist, Hard Fist, or Strong Fist) was the master of Ryu and Ken in Capcom's Street Fighter fighting game series. Along with his brother Akuma, he was taught the killing art of Goutetsu-ryū Ansatsuken by its founder, Goutetsu. However, unlike his brother and master, Gouken abhorred the violence inherent to the system (Gouken excluded the Shun Goku Satsu and some of Ansatsuken's more life-threatening moves). He was more interested in the spiritual side of the art. As a result, he created a toned down version of Ansatsuken that emphasized self-defense, self-improvement, and personal cultivation. Gouken even improvised a new way of drawing in and utilizing ki that did not result in lethal force.

Gouken lived very much like the ascetic yamabushi of old. He confined himself to the wild mountains where he elevated his mind and body through extremely rigorous training and meditation. He dressed in only the shabbiest of clothes and wore prayer beads. The kanji Mu, or empty, was sewn to the back of his gi. It is unknown how Gouken spent his early years away from Goutetsu, but he did witness the death of his master at Akuma's hands. His first student was Dan, a young man who had some background in Muay Thai. However, he had to release Dan after discovering that Dan's purpose for learning Ansatsuken was to gain vengeance for his father's death. Later, Gouken adopted an orphan named Ryu and started training the boy. He then accepted Ken as a second student, as was custom for Ansatsuken. Finally, sometime during this period he had a daughter, whom both Ryu and Ken refer to as Little Miss.

Initially, Gouken was the stronger of Goutetsu's students. Once, Akuma challenged his brother to a duel, loudly declaring himself to be the true heir of Ansatsuken. He was soundly defeated by Gouken. As his brother slunk away, Gouken remarked to his two young students how Akuma had corrupted his Hadou no Chikara (Power of Hado) and that when he returned, he would bring calamity to the school.

Sadly, Gouken was correct. Akuma did return years later, fully embracing the killing intent called Satsui no Hadou, making Akuma many times more devastating. Akuma returned to challenge Gouken a second time while his pupils Ryu and Ken were away taking part in different tournaments. While initially Gouken did defeat Akuma once more, his unwillingness to kill him was his downfall, as he was killed before his daughter's eyes, with Ken also returning just in time to see the fatal blow of the Shun Goku Satsu. After recovering from shock, Ken pursued the exiting Akuma and fought him on the forest path in blind rage to avenge his master. He was defeated (but not killed) by Akuma.

Little Miss was possibly killed during Akuma's destruction of Gouken's dojo, as she has not appeared since.

Gouken is interred at Suzaku castle, Ryu's stage in Street Fighter II.

[edit] Trivia

The apocryphal confrontation of M. Bison and Gouken from Street Fighter II RYU.

Gouken's daughter only appears in the early years of the Street Fighter series. There are two official drawings of her. She has not appeared in any Street Fighter games, and it is assumed Capcom has since forgotten about her.
In the manga Street Fighter II RYU, it was M. Bison who killed Gouken. However, when Capcom created Akuma, this was retconned.
In the Street Fighter II V Retsuden manga, Gouken had another student, Gouun. He was assistant instructor to Ryu and Ken until he turned evil by channeling Psycho Power and was killed by Ryu.
Gouken was a good friend of Retsu's.
Gouken and Ken's father were also good friends.
Gouken and Goutetsu can be seen in Akuma's ending in Street Fighter Alpha. Gouken is the first shown and is then followed by Goutetsu.
Gouken can be seen with Goutetsu and Ryu in the Street Fighter III Secret File.
In Street Fighter Alpha Generations, Gouken has long hair.